Most of us have stopped by a convenience store at some point.
Perhaps you needed fuel, or wanted a cup of coffee, bottle of soda or some other snack.
At most of these locations, there’s a small container of some kind by the cash register, and people will leave pennies (and sometimes more) there for others. I’ll often leave several pennies there, even asking the cashier to make the entire amount of change pennies to put in the cup.
That feels pretty good. Yeah, it’s small, but it still feels good.
But, have you ever been on the end of needing a few pennies? Oh sure, you could break another bill, but just grabbing two pennies from the cup is much easier, and then you don’t have to carry 98 cents with you all day. Why, if I place pennies in the cups, do I feel bad for taking a few out once in awhile?
I’m guessing that I’m not the only one to feel this way, either.
Whenever that happens I’ll usually comment, “Some days are deposits and some days are withdrawls. Today is a withdrawl.”
I want to suggest to you that the same applies to our relationships.
Most of the time life just cruises along and all is well. But, other times, well, some days are deposits and some days are withdrawls. Granted, we try to give into each others lives every day, but there are just some days when our friend needs a little more, and there are days when we need a little more.
Been there? Sure you have.
I had the privilege of hanging out with a great friend a couple of weeks ago. We got to spend several hours together. We talked, caught up on the kids, considered some future items and had a great time laughing. It was one of those days where I made some deposits, and made some withdrawls. You’ve done the same.
The book of Proverbs says this:
The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense. (Proverbs 27:9)
My friend and I on Saturday, well, there was no perfume involved, but there was some barbecue smoke. Regardless, I appreciated his counsel.
Just days later, my friend was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer that has spread to his liver and lungs. Needless to say, I’m going to be making many more deposits into his life over the coming weeks and months. Even so, he still made a deposit into my life.
He and his wife and son traveled to Mayo Clinic for some tests. I texted him to tell him that I would be praying for him that God would give him great favor there. This was his reply to me:
“Just checking in. When do you think I should tell the doctor that he won’t be the one who will heal me?”
I love that kind of faith in a big God!
Let me encourage you to make some deposits in your friends this week. And, if you need to make a withdrawl, well, that’s okay, too. But, don’t miss an opportunity. You never know when the next one will come.